The center will provide a forum where international marine scholars can develop solutions to critical threats to the oceans, Stanford University President John Hennessy said. Threats listed by the foundation include overfishing, water pollution from coastal runoff and climate change - a driver of ocean acidification and coral reef destruction.

Part of the center's mission is to improve graduate-level marine education by developing student workshops and short courses on marine science and policy, she said. It also will sponsor fellowships for postdoctoral scholars and recent law and business school graduates as well as offer courses to leaders in government and the private sector.